Top House Republicans Wednesday unveiled a comprehensive energy reform agenda aimed at increasing all forms of domestic energy. They took shots at the Democratic leadership, claiming that not only has the party done little to alleviate energy prices, they have made them worse.

“With the price at the pump reaching a new record high daily and the cost of natural gas soaring, Americans are sick and tired of this do-nothing Congress,” said Rep. John Peterson (R-PA), who favors lifting the moratorium on offshore drilling. “House Republicans have waited 18 months for Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi to bring energy production legislation to the floor; yet, all we get is tax and blame legislation,” he said.

“The solutions-based approach Republicans rolled out today hits all aspects of the energy spectrum: increased domestic production of oil and natural gas, clean coal and advanced nuclear technology, increased efficiency and conservation, expanded investment in renewables, and cutting the red tape in Washington to allow refining and infrastructure expansion to occur.”

The Republican plan calls for increased production of oil and natural gas in areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Outer Continental Shelf; production and investment tax credits for new baseload electricity projects; expedited permitting for enhanced oil recovery projects; new refining capacity and technologies to increase the efficiency of existing power plants; an end to policies that have led to the creation of “boutique fuels; and tax incentives for technologies to boost energy efficiency in all sectors.

Senate Republicans last Wednesday offered a proposal for leasing in the ANWR and to give coastal states the option to open their shore areas to oil and natural gas production. But it was quickly defeated (42-56) by Democrats (see Daily GPI, May 14).

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